Rob Lang's Blog

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Specter's Switch

Some notes on Senator Arlen Specter, who I covered in my 15 years as a reporter in Pennsylvania, and who is now a Democrat.

First, no one works a room like Arlen Specter. If he were to have an informal news conference outside a meeting room, Specter would shake hands with every reporter, photographer and spectator waiting for him. He'd also shake hands with the security guard, or janitor working in the hallway.

However, in a 50 year public career, Pennsylvania's senior U.S. Senator has irked Democrats, Republicans and JFK assassination conspiracy theorists alike.

Specter arrived on the national scene in 1964, as the junior counsel to the Warren Commission.

That's the panel which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It was Specter who concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald fired the one shot that killed the president and wounded Texas Governor John Connolly. It was the so called "magic bullet theory." To this day Specter's theory angers those who believe that Lee Harvey Oswald was not the only shooter, and that there was a massive conspiracy to kill President Kennedy. Nearly 45 years later, Specter still defends the theory.

Republicans' wrath at Specter stems in part from his support of abortion rights and his support of this year's economic stimulus bill. Some Republicans also never forgave Specter for his 1987 opposition to Judge Robert Bork who President Reagan nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still Republicans in Pennsylvania nominated Specter, and elected him five times. In the Harrisburg area, which is heavily Republican, voters liked Specter's seniority, and his efforts to bring back federal dollars to their area. They also liked the fact that while he didn't always vote their way, he was in their corner most of the time.

There are plenty of Democrats in Pennsylvania who have been offended by Arlen Specter. His support of President George W. Bush, and the Iraq War are two examples of this.

There are also Democrats who have never forgiven Specter for his questioning of Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas.

Specter questioned Hill's credibility through the hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also supported Thomas. It was a move that nearly cost Specter the 1992 election. That year, Democrats nominated Lynn Yeakel, a non-profit executive from Philadelphia, to challenge Specter. It was a very heated and costly race, with Democratic luminaries, including Barbara Mikulski, coming to Pennsylvania to raise money and campaign for Yeakel. In the end Specter narrowly won.

Over the years, Democrats in Pennsylvania have endorsed Specter. He has always received the backing of most organized labor, and other groups that support Democrats. Like Republicans, they view Specter as someone who brings the federal dollars back to Pennsylvania, and who votes their way most of the time.

In 15 years, of covering Arlen Specter I never once heard him express regret for anything he did. He was always willing to answer questions about his record, and even to this day the questions come up at the numerous town meetings the senator holds throughout Pennsylvania.

Specter has prided himself on his Independence, and he says that will remain now that he is a Democrat. It remains to be seen if Pennsylvania voters, will accept him in his new party, but given his ambition and his record, the nearly 80-year old Specter will fight to the end.